For Private Prisons, Turn Right at Columbia! / There's a Game on Your Phone That Recruits Child Soldiers

As the head of the Lungmen Guard Department, Ch'en could certainly discuss this action of dividing authority from the Lungmen Guard Department with her superiors.

As Wei Yenwu's niece, Ch'en also had sufficient leverage to influence his actions.

However, these are not exactly "rights" in black and white.

Although Oute wasn't present, he could guess that Ch'en must have been there when these terms were drafted.

Although nominally it is "discipline on behalf of others," when it comes to the power over "people," whoever works for them actually has the power to manage them.

This kind of behavior, which effectively divides the authority of the Lungmen Guard Department and seeks to protect the personal rights of infected criminals... could not possibly be Wei Yenwu's decision.

Ch'en despised Wei Yenwu's practice of hiring foreign troops, but was very satisfied with Rhodes Island's entry into the slums, which essentially took over the duties of the Lungmen Guard Department. The agreement to manage the prisoners was more like an extension of the Lungmen Guard Department's previous operations in the slums.

"My Lord commands me to invite you two." Specter abruptly turned his head and looked at Zi.

Her movements were so swift, as if a frame had been removed from the picture, that the continuity seemed lost to the average person.

"Two of you?" Beatrix's cat ears twitched.

Jie raised his right hand and said, "It seems like I'm still here."

His menacing appearance almost instantly triggered Beatrix's police officer radar.

She instinctively reached for her weapon, but quickly realized she shouldn't do it and snorted sullenly.

"Then, please follow me."

The Specter moved almost horizontally, taking the lead.

The operator who had just been captured and "interrogated" by Beatrix also slipped away as if granted a pardon—his performance in the questioning was quite poor, and he hadn't even memorized all his lines.

Throughout the journey, Beatrix felt a growing unease as she looked at the tight defenses.

Before being dispatched to the slums to meet with Lungmen's "security contractor," she had actually asked Ch'en, Hoshiguma, and others about Rhodes Island.

However, at the time she was more concerned about their medical technology and pharmaceutical capabilities...

Regarding Rhodes Island's combat capabilities, although it's recognized that the "security contractor" must be skilled in combat... this is completely different from the so-called "office" that resembles a fortress!

Incidentally, due to the signing of the security contract, Rhodes Island's temporary outpost in the slums has been officially registered as a formal office.

However, due to its short duration and intentional military specialization, the current Lungmen Liaison Office is still too distorted to undertake many tasks outside of war and combat.

Soon, Miss Poetry realized that Rhodes Island must have overheard a few words from Wei Yenwu.

Only in this way can the constantly reinforced defenses of Rhodes Island be explained.

It's almost like... they've been spying on the Lungmen Guard Department's intelligence!

Hmm... is it possible that it's actually the other way around?

On the other hand, Jie exclaimed in amazement, "Wow! The way you patrol with crossbows is even more impressive than the Lungmen Guard Department!"

Beatrix immediately turned her head away.

That's awful! You have to glare at them!

Specter said calmly, "Everyone has their own expertise. The Lungmen Guard Department's functions are more focused on policing."

As they spoke, they arrived at the door of Oute's office.

Chapter Ninety-Four: Private Prisons - Please turn right into Columbia!

Specter's eyes held a clear rationality.

The Proxy Protocol handshake is complete.

Currently, Oute is using the Specter's sensory system.

"Miss Swire, given the confidentiality and importance of our business, please wait a moment," the nun said calmly. "Although I believe Mr. Jie would not intentionally eavesdrop, this office is not soundproof."

"Tsk!"

Beatrix curled her lip and said, "Speaking of which, why are you looking for him?"

"We will provide a reasonable explanation for these questions shortly. Please wait in the waiting room, Ms. Swire."

Oute's office has already undergone some renovations.

However, he did not do it himself.

The calligraphy and paintings inside, as well as the waiting room we just saw, were all things the agents quickly put together as the temporary base was being converted into an office.

The waiting room is somewhat useful, but the calligraphy and paintings there are too formalistic.

But since we're already here, it would be a hassle to back down now, so we might as well just let it be.

A short while later, Jie left Oute's office, and a drone followed him silently.

The young heiress hadn't even warmed her seat on the sofa when she heard Specter knocking on the door. "Miss Swire, Mr. Jie has already left."

"So fast!?" she exclaimed in surprise. "What exactly is he here for?"

A wisp of smoke rose from the teacup.

Well, it's much better quality than the broken tea leaves that Oute drinks himself, but it's still not a very good tea for the young lady.

Beatrix looked closely and saw two cups of tea placed at opposite ends of the desk, but clearly, Zi hadn't drunk any of it.

"You're Doctor. Oute?" she asked, feigning ignorance.

The man was a Liberi, with black ear feathers hidden in his dry white hair, and his whole being exuded an air of "extreme intelligence", "frailty" and "arrogance".

But he's very handsome!

He's both an "ice queen" and a "sickly beauty," a super handsome guy who fulfills both attributes at once... Wow, cough cough, let's calm down.

A person so simple that anyone can see right through them.

Beatrix concluded.

No, you saw right through the loneliness.

Beatrix pondered: Why would Rhodes Island reveal such a trump card?

Oute tapped the table and said, "Essentially, Miss Swire, your job is the same as Mr. Zi's."

Beatrix raised an eyebrow. "I'm not here to be a cook!"

Specter wasn't lying to her; the soundproofing in Oute's office really hadn't been done yet.

But she hadn't actually heard everything; she was just subconsciously trying to "bluff" Oute.

Bluster is a common tactic and a form of capital gained during the early stages of rapid, unregulated growth. Of course, even more common methods include hiring people to stage elaborate elaborate elaborate displays of force, seizing company seals, or pouring boiling water on money trees...

Speaking of Specter, the nun is currently finishing her secretarial work.

With a smile in her eyes, she hummed an exotic song and replaced Beatrix's tea set with a cup of fresh tea.

"A chef is just a job, but the fact that he was given this job means that Rhodes Island is willing to share power with the locals..." Oute replied. "He was recommended by Miss Lin, and although he is completely unaware of it, at this moment, he represents the other half of Lungmen."

Unlike his uncle Ben, Oute deeply understood that the greater the responsibility one "bears," the more power one can seize; and the more power one seizes, the more responsibilities one can take away.

Introducing "Lin's" influence into the office not only means that the Rat King can influence the office, but also that the office can use Rat King's influence to expand recklessly in the slums.

Furthermore, slums and the underworld are clearly insufficient to represent half of "Lungmen." Oute just said only meant that Jie represents one half of "black" and "white."

A stinky rat? Wasn't she uninterested in the family business?

"I'm here simply to discuss the prisoner issue with you."

Even if Wei Yenwu signed the agreement, it won't be so easy to seize power from the Lungmen Guard Department for nothing! At the very least... he needs to know why.

The little tiger made a fierce vow in its heart.

It's kind of cute that she only says half of the harsh words she wants to say in her heart.

Beatrix hid her true intentions very well.

But Specter was still standing beside Oute.

"Power abhors a vacuum," Oute replied. "Since the Lungmen Guard Department is practically unable to fulfill its responsibility of managing infected prisoners, that responsibility will find its own master."

The Lungmen Guard Department's management of infected prisoners... is barely adequate.

Sometimes, only psychopaths would deliberately "manage" infected prisoners. Even if the leaders of the Lungmen Guard Department have sympathy for the infected, discrimination against the infected is systematically rooted in the hearts of all "civilized" people on Terra.

Infected individuals may not even be considered human, let alone those imprisoned. Although the "better than nothing" management is bad enough, prisoners probably prefer to face the psychopaths rather than the mentally unstable ones.

"However, this branch is not the reason I specifically met with Superintendent Swire." Oute paused, then said, "I believe Superintendent Swire is already mentally prepared for her actual work."

She was a mole that the Lungmen Guard Department had blatantly planted in the office.

Furthermore, the difference in their status is equivalent to the difference in influence the Guard Bureau and Lin Ge Rui have over the Lungmen Office. After all, one is a formal, established public institution, while the other is merely an informal underworld leader... And the fact that Zi is completely unaware of his own position further suggests that the Rat King is merely putting on a show.

Oute's matter-of-fact tone stirred a subtle competitive urge in Swire.

This prompted the little tiger to deliver her introductory line with a slightly defiant attitude. "Senior Superintendent of Lungmen! Codename Swire! Now, as a training consultant, I'm employed by Rhodes Island!"

She said, enunciating each word clearly, "Doctor. Oute, for the sake of Lungmen's future, we two must get along well!"

"Very good." Oute nodded.

"Our operators are more proficient in asymmetric warfare, but their experience in security management is slightly less than that of the Lungmen Guard Department. I believe that with Ms. Swire's help, they will be able to adapt to this kind of work in the future."

Their experience in maintaining public order is relatively less than that of the Lungmen Guard Department.

There's nothing wrong with the statement itself, but when combined with what he recently heard from Specter —that "everyone has their own expertise, Lungmen Guard Department's functions are more focused on policing"—it seems that Oute is belittling the Lungmen Guard Department's... military technology.

"Huh!? The work of the various departments in Lungmen is very complex! Maintaining public order, protecting the people, managing traffic, assisting with trade..."

Before the little tiger could finish listing her points, Oute interrupted her, "That's precisely why Mr. Wei Yenwu hired us."

Chapter Ninety-Five: There's a game on my phone that involves hiring child soldiers.